Ladipo Market To Be Shut On Tuesday Over PVC

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); Ladipo Market Association leader, Chief Jude Nwankwo (left); Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya (2nd right); Project Director, Hitech Construction Company, Mr. Willy Bark Huisen (right) during the Governor’s inspection of the ongoing construction of roads in Ladipo area of Mushin, Lagos

Traders at the popular Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market in Mushin, Lagos, have concluded plans to shut the market on Tuesday to enable the traders go to collection centers to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) across the State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that this was the decision of the Central Executive of the market leaders comprising about 42 unions known as Ladipo Auto Central Executives Dealers Association.

It was gathered that the traders in the past had not participated in exercising their civil responsibilities as they were seen in various beer joints drinking during the elections. But that seemed to be changing following the election of the new president, Chief Jude Nwankwo, who had sensitized the traders on the need to participate in various elections both in the State and at National level.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Chief Nwankwo after assuming office told the traders about the need to be actively involved in the development agenda of Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s administration and the electoral process to elect leaders from the councillors, council chairmen, legislators at the State and National Assembly, governorship and the presidency in order to have a say in the processes of governance.

Though it was huge task for Chief Jude Nwankwo to convince the traders and other executives to close the market because of PVC but he was able to do so by going round the market and convincing both the leadership of various unions and the traders before the decision was taken at the last meeting.

The latest decision may have positioned the traders for politicians not to ignore them from seeking their votes and be more accountable because of the huge population of the traders who would participate in the voting process.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the traders were more convinced because of the massive ongoing road constructions on the streets in the market despite the fact that the current Governor did not get reasonable number of votes from that area during the 2015 gubernatorial election.
It was not certain if they will actually vote for the ruling party led by Mr. Ambode, however finding revealed that most of the traders had in the recent past commended the Governor for his good performance.

Some of the traders who spoke with our correspondent welcomed the new development of closing the market because of PVC and noted that it was the first time since the history of the market that the market will be closed because of election process. They commended the new leadership for the vision and urged the state government to reciprocate the gesture because the programme will favour the ruling party because of Ambode’s performance in the area and around Lagos.

However, some traders said that though they were happy with Ambode’s performance, they had reservations for the party at the centre because of the policies of President Mohammed Buhari which they claimed did not favour the traders.
The closure of the market was confirmed by Chief Nwankwo who reiterated the importance of voting during the election and said that the leadership took the decision so that the traders will not have excuses not to vote during the upcoming election. He said that the exercise was not targeted to favour any political party but aimed primarily to expose the traders on the need to perform their civic responsibility in the society.